Toy railway system



y 28,1940 I R. J. JURICK ,20 ,5 7

TOY RAILWAY SYSTEM Filed Jun 1 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 TRAIN M 07'] ON IIO Voll's All.

May 28, 940. R JURmK 2,202,557

TOY RAILWAY SYSTEM Filed June 1, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 28 1940 UNITED STATES" @ATENT OFFICE TOYRAILWAY SYSTEM v Rudolph J. Jurick, Irvington, N. J. Application June 1, 1938, Serial No. 211,10?

. I V 19 Claims.

This invention relates to toy railway systems and more particularly to systems including an automatically operated bridge which opens to permit passage of a miniature boat thereunder. Toys are associated with children, serving chiefly as amedium of amusement, but the presentday tendency is toward the development of toys which'are operating models of the familiar machinery and vehicles of everyday commerce 101 and industry. The apparatus disclosed'and described herein falls into this classification,

possessing inherent novelty to amuseboth young and old and suificiently unique in construction to inspire respect on the part of technical men well acquainted with the simple principles involvedl--The action of the various units comprising this invention approximates a sequence of actual eventswith which the average person is familiar, and places complete control of same in his hands.- The human desire to control motion byremote means, enlivened by an average amount-of imaginatiom'provides a fertilefield of acceptance for toys of the type described. Further, the apparatus herein disclosed fills a definite need in the field of model railway building, as those engaged in such activity are ever seeking to add realism to their'layout." A novel apparatus, moderately priced, whereby the above object of this invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide, inf'asystem of the class described, novel means whereby proper opening and closing of the tracks is assuredtogether with a novel electrical circuit 35. whereby the apparatus is caused to function with amini mum possibility offailure. "'Afurther'object of the invention is to provide, injcombination witha bridge having-a movable span, a novel miniature boat system with an'a's sociated electrical control circuit whereby the boat is caused to pass through the open bridge span at the proper time. I I Still another object of the invention is the pro visionpf an electrical control circuit or circuits class described, is made entirely automatic.

The above, and other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following specification when taken with the ac-. companying drawings in which two embodiments of the invention are illustrated. It is to be ex pressly understood, however, that the drawings mentioned action may beproduced, is broadly the whereby the operation of the apparatus, of the component parts in approximately correct relative position when the span is closed.

Fig. 2 is a diagram of the electrical control circuit, showing only a portion of the entire course 1 of tracks.

Fig. 3 is a detail isometric view showing the method of rail construction to assure proper closing of the track sections.

Fig, 4 is anelevation of a rotating type bridge, with the span in closed position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan View showing detail ofgears and contact switch used in connection with the bridge shown in Fig. 4.

The present embodiment of this invention comprises a course of tracks for use with toy railway trains and including a plurality of insulated track sections, a bridge inserted in the course of tracks-and including a movable span closing a gap in the course of tracks when in closed position, a toy boat adapted to be moved through the gap when said span is in open position and a signal located at the approach to the bridge, for indicating safe and unsafe conditions, namely, whether the bridge is open or closed. Actuating means are provided for moving the span to and from open position in a continuous operation and for simultaneously moving the boat through the gap when the span is in open position. Means are also provided for operating the train signal and for stopping the boat at a predetermined point. These actuating means are in turn initiated by the train upon reaching an insulated section in the track course.

The apparatus as shown in Fig. 1 comprises a bridge structure mounted on a suitable mounting board 1, with fixed spans 8 and 9 and movable span II], the latter fulcrumed by and free to rotate about shaft II which is in turn secured to the mounting board by angle pieces :2. Shaft l3, to which are fastened cams M by screws I5 is driven by motor l6, being directly coupled thereto by pin I! or any other suitable means. Cams l4 operate against the floor of movable span l0, their shape being such that as shaft I3 is ro-, tated by motor I6, span 10 opens and closes for each revolution of said cams. The continuous motion of span ID, from a closed to open, and back to closed position, accomplished by use of unidirectional motor 16 is one of the novel features of this invention, reducing the cost and adding to the simplicity of the apparatus.

The train, shown diagrammatically in dotted lines at iiia in Fig. 2, may be of the conventional electric toy type used in toy railway systems, and is energized by current flowing in the tracks in the usual manner well known to those skilled in the art, the current being supplied from the usual volt source through the transformer 36 connected to the tracks at 39.

Novel means are provided for operating the boat in the manner hereinbeiore described and, in the form shown, said boat operating means comprise pulleys i8 and iii of suitable construction, connected by endless belt 29, having miniature boat 2! secured thereto. By means of a drive it or equivalent, pulley it is secured to shaft 22, said shaft being coupled to motor 23 by pin 2 and free to rotate in angle pieces 25. Pulley I9 is free to rotate about shaft 28,'said shaft being in turn free to rotate in angle pieces 27 and held in position by pins 28. Motor rotates the pulley and belt system causing boat 21 to move linearly along the path defined by belt 29, said boat being exposed to view while traveling along the upper portion of the belt and hidden from view by mounting board 2 when returning to its original starting position.

In order to prevent the boat from passing through the bridge when the movable span is closed or not open sufliciently, it is desirable to have'the boat stop at the same point after each cycle of operation. In the present instance this is accomplished by a contact switch included in the electrical. circuit and operated by the bridge actuating means. As illustrated in Fig. 1 the contact switch comprises the switch 3t mounted on board l in a suitable manner and in such position as to cooperate with a pin 35 which is rigidly secured to shaft !3. Pin 35 causes said switch to open and close at the correct time in the cycle of operation, ,thereby'causing boat 2! to stop at a predetermined point more fully explained hereinafter.

A novel method of constructing the joining ends of adjacent track sections is also provided and comprises cutting away part of the tubular section of one rail and providing a pinin the tubular section of the adjoining rail so that said pin engages the cut away portion of the first rail when the span is in closed position. Fig. 3 discloses one form of the above mentioned method as app-lied to the ends of rails 29, 3!. method, in the present instance, is carried out by cutting away the upper, portion of rails 3a to ac commodate pins S'Zprovided in the ends of rails 29. Thus as span ii? is lowered into closed position, the two track sections properly engage, both electrically and mechanically, even though span Iii possesses a certain amount of play along shaft H. The adjoining ends of rails 29 and 3| are constructed in a similar manner. wire jumpers 33, Fig. 1, providing a good electrical contact between these two track sections at all times.

The cycle of operation for the entireapparatus, with particular reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, is

as follows.

In the normal or starting position, i. e., just before the train Illa reaches track section B from the right as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, the span It is closed, motors l5 and 23 are de-energized, switch 3 is held open by pin 35, boat 25 is hidden from view by mounting board 1, and relays 36 and 3'! are in de-energized or open position.

With relay 36 open, current is supplied to in- 152 and 43 and wire 44.

track sections is accomplished by conventional The sulated track section A, from transformer 38', to the course of tracks at points 39, through the tracks M] of the closed span, wire 4|, contacts Insulation of the various pin type insulators 45. It should be noted that the center rail circuit is unbroken except when span I0 is in opened position, electrical control would continue its course over the tracks,v unina terrupted. To initiate the automatic operation of the apparatus it is only necessary to close master control switch 5| either manually or automatically by means of a time clock, time delay relay, etc.

With switch 5| closed, the passage of the train Illa over insulated track section B causes this section to become alive due to the spanning of the outside track insulator pins 45 by the wheels of the various cars. This energizes rectifier 52 through wires 53, which in turn energizes relay 36, the coil of said relay being permanently connected across the output side of the rectifier. It can be seen that the substitution'of a low voltage, alternating current relay for relay 36 eliminates the need for rectifier .52. The instant relay 36 closes, it looks itself in electrically, current for this purpose being supplied through wires 4i and 53, and contacts 43 and 54. Also, the opening of contacts 42 and 43 removes the current from the outside rails of insulated track section A. said insulated section being long enough to accommodate the entire train Illa with suflicient allowance to permit the train to coast to a stop on'this section. Thus, the train Illa comes to a stop on track section A, as shown diagrammatically in dotted lines in Fig. 2, but it should be noted that the remainder of the endless track course remains energized thereby making it posother section of the track course. A second set of contacts, 55 and 58, on relay 36, energize relay 3'! and complete the .110 volt power circuit to motors l6 and 23 causing them to rotate the shafts attached respectively thereto. Contacts 41 and 56 of relay 31 change the light'in signal 48 from green to red by shifting the circuitfrom wires 49 and 5D to wires 50 and 51. In systems where a signal is not desired, relay 3'! is dispensed with.

Motor E6 rotates shaft I3 causing pin 35 to allow the contacts of switch 34 to close and cams M to raise span H1. Motor 23 rotates pulley l8 which causes boat 2| to move with belt 20. Both motors are small, clock' type, havingbuilt in gear reductions and their shaft speeds are so chosen that when used in conjunction with a predetermined length of belt 20, and 'predetermined diameter of pulleys l8 and I9, boat 2| will always pass through the bridge when span I 0 is opened to approximately the maximum height. The initial starting position of boat 2| is predetermined for any particular combinationof shaft speeds, belt lengthand pulley diameter.

Switch 34'serves to stop the boat at the "same point at the termination-of each cycle of operation, as more fully explained hereinafter.

The electrical circuit is so designed that when rails 29 disengagefrom rails 30 as span 1!! opens, current is removed from the coil of relay 36, said relay thereupon returning to its normal 'or open position. However, by this time in the cycle the contacts of switch 34 are closed, said contacts being in parallel electrical connection with contacts 55 and 58 of relay 36 and therefore motors l6 and 23 continue to rotate and relay 3? remains closed.

The return of relay 36 to normal position does not supply current to insulated track section A, (upon which the train Illa is now resting) because of the open circuit existing between rails 29 and 30, power to the track course being supplied at points 39. Thus, span l0 continues through the opening and closing cycle and boat 2| continues around pulley l9. As span l0 reaches the closed position, the engagement of rails 29 and 30 completes the electrical circuit to insulated track section A, through wires M and 44 and contacts 42 and 43 of relay 36, cans ing the train 1a to start on its course over the bridge, to the left as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. Motors l6 and 23, however, continue to rotate until pin 35 opens the contacts of switch 34, the opening of said switch 34 removing the current from motors l6 and 23, and the coil of relay 31. Motors I6 and 23 thereupon stop immediately and relay 3'! returns to normal or open position. Contacts 46 and 47 of relay 3! change the light in signal 48 from red to green by shifting the circuit from wires 58 and 51 backto wires 49 and 50. The time differential between the instant when the train Illa starts and the signal changes from red to green depends upon the location of pin 35 relative to cams M. This difference may be reduced to an inconsequential value by proper adjustment. of the parts involved, being entirely removed in systems operating without a signal.

From the foregoing it will be seen that switch 34 serves to definitely stop boat 2| at approximately the same point at the end of each cycle of operation, and therefore precludes the possibility of said boat from passing through the bridge except when span It! is properly opened It will also be seen that by doubling the length of belt 20 or halving the speed of shaft 22, two miniature boats may be attached to belt 20, said boats alternately passing through the bridge.

Another embodiment of this invention is disclosed in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. Unidirectional motor 59 has securely attached thereto gear 6!], said gear having the teeth of opposite quadrants removed, substantially as shown. Gear 65 is securely attached to shaft 65, said shaft being permanently afiixed to movable bridge span 61, in anysuitable manner. Collar $8 secured to shaft 66 by screw 69 serves to support. the movable span 61 on mounting board 1. Pin 10 protruding from the face of gear 80, engages the extended blade of switch 34 and causes the contacts of said switch to open and close at the proper t'ime in the operating cycle.

Motor 59 rotates gear 6%) in the direction shown and quadrant 62 of said gear causes gear 65 to rotate through an angle of -degrees, thereby opening span 6! to a position at right angles to fixed spans H. Movable span 6'! remains in this position as quadrant (ii of gear 60 passes by the point of mutual contact between the two gears thus allowing sufiicient time for boat 21 (Fig. 1) to pass through the bridge. As gear 60 continues to rotate, quadrant 64 again engages the teeth of gear 65 causing movable span 6'! to rotate another 90 angular degrees thereby returning to the closed position. As quadrant 63 of gear 60 passes by gear 65, pin It causes the contacts of switch 34 to open; said contacts serving the same purpose in this embodiment as described in the early part of this specification. The ineffective quadrant 63 of gear 59 permits a wide latitude in the location of switch 34 on mounting board 1.

Although only two embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, various changes in form, construction and relative arrangement of parts, which will now be apparent to those skilled in the art, may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A top railway system having a course of tracks for use with toy railway trains and including a plurality of insulated track sections, a bridge inserted in the course'of tracks and comprising a movable span closing a gap in said course of tracks when in closed position, a toy boat adapted to be moved through the gap when, said span is in open position, a signal located at the approach to the bridge for indicating safe and unsafe conditions, actuating means for moving the span to and from open position in a continuous operation and for simultaneously moving the boat through the gap when the span is in open position and for cutting off the power from one of the insulated track sections and for operating the signal; said actuating means being initiated by the train upon reaching another of said insulated sections of track, and means for stopping the boat at apredetermined point.

2. A toy railway system having a course of tracks for use with toy railway trains and including a plurality of insulated track sections, a bridge inserted in the course of tracks and comprising a movable span closing a gap in the said course of tracks when in closed position, a toy boat adapted to be moved through the gap when the span is in open position, a signal located at the approach to the bridge for indicating safe and unsafe conditions, actuating means for moving the span to and from open position and for 7 simultaneously moving the boat through the gap when the span is in open position and for cutting ofithe power from one of the insulated sections of track and for operating the signal; said actuating means being initiated by the train upon reaching another of said insulated sections of track, and means for stopping the boat at a predetermined point.

3. A toy system comp-rising, in combination, a toy bridge having a movable span closing a gap in the bridge when in closed position, a toy boat adapted to be moved through the gap when said span is in open position, a signal located at the approach to the bridge, actuatingmeans for moving the span to and from open position, actuating means for. simultaneously moving the boat through the gap when said span is open, means for operating the signal, common means for simultaneously controlling the operation of all of said means, and means controlled by said span actuating means for stopping the boat at a predetermined point.

. 4. A toy system comprising, in combination, a

toy bridge having a movable span closing a gap in the bridge when in closed position, a toy boat adapted to be moved through the gap when said span is open, a signal located at the approach to the bridge for indicating safe and unsafe conditions, actuating means for moving the span to and from open position, actuating means for simultaneously moving the boat through the gap when said span is open, means for operating the signal to give one indication when the span is open and another indication when the span is closed, and common means for simultaneously controlling the operation of all of said means.

5. A toy system comprising, in combination, a toy bridge having a movable span closing a gap in the bridge when in closed position, a toy boat adapted to be moved through the gap when said span is in open position, actuating means for moving the span to and from open position, actuating means for simultaneously moving the boat through the gap, common means for controlling the operation of all of said means, and means controlled by said span actuating means for stopping the boat at a predetermined point.

6. A toy system comprising, in combination, a toy cantilever bridge having a movable span closing a gap in the bridge when in closed position, a toy boat adapted to be moved through the gap when said span is open, actuating means for moving the said span to and from open position, actuating means for simultaneously moving the boat through the gap, and common means for simultaneously controlling the operation of both of said actuating means.

'7. A toy system comprising, in combination, a toy rotary bridge having a movable span closing a gap in the bridge when in closed position, a toy boat adapted to be moved through the gap when said span is in open position, actuating means for rotating the span to and from open position, actuating means for simultaneously moving the boat through the gap when said span is open, and common means for simultaneously controlling the operation of both of said actuating means.

8. A toy railway system having a course of racks for use with toy railway trains and including a plurality of insulated sections of track, a bridge inserted in the course of tracks and comprising a movable span closing a gap in the course of tracks when in closed position, a toy boat adapted to be moved through the gap when said span is in open position, and actuating means for cutting off the power from one of the insulated sections of track, for moving the span to and from open position and for simultaneously moving the boat through the gap when said span is open, said actuating means being initiated by the passage of the train over another of said insulated sections of track.

9. A toy railway system having a course of tracks for use with toy railway trains and including a plurality of insulated sections of track, a bridge inserted in the course of tracks and comprising a movable span closing a gap in the course of said tracks when in closed position, and acuating means initiated by the train upon reaching one of the insulated sections of track, for cutting off the power to another of said insulated sections of track and for moving the span to and from open position.

10. A toy railway system having a course of tracks for use with toy railway trains, a bridge inserted in the course of tracks and comprising a movable span closing a gap 'inthecourse of tracks when in closed position, a toy boat adapted to be moved through the gap when said span is in open position, a signal located at the approach to the bridge, actuating means for movingthe span to and from open position and for simultaneously moving the boat through the gap when said span is open, actuating means for operating the signal to give one indication when said span is open and effective upon closing of the span to give a different indication, means operated by the train in'approaching the-bridge to initiate the operation of both of said actuating means, and means for stopping the boat at a predetermined point.

11. 'A toy railway system having a course of tracks for use with toy railway trains, a bridge inserted in the course of tracks and comprising a movable span closing a gap in the course of said tracks when in closed position, a toy boat adapted to be moved through the gap when the span is in open position, actuating means for moving the span to and from open position and for simultaneously moving the boat through the gap when the span is open, means operated by the train in approaching the bridge for initiating the operation of said actuating means, and means for stopping the boat at a predetermined point' 12. A toy railway system having a course of tracks for use with toy railway trains, a bridge inserted in the course of tracks and comprising a movable span closing a gap in the course of tracks when in closed position, a toy boat adapted to be moved through the gap when said span is in open position, actuating means for moving the span to and from open position and for simultaneously moving the boat through the'gap when said span is open, means operated by the train I in approaching the bridge for. initiating the operation of the actuating means, and means for stopping the train when the operation of the actuating means is initiated.

13. A toy railway system having a course of tracks for use with toy railway trains, a toy train movable on said tracks, a toy cantilever bridge inserted in the course of tracks and comprising a movable span closing a gap in the course of tracks when in closed position, a toy boat adapted to be moved through the gap when said span is open, and actuating means controlled by said train upon approaching said span for moving the span to and from open position and for simultaneously moving the boat through the gap when said span is in open position.

14. A toy railway system having a course of tracks for use with toy railway trains, a toy train movable on said tracksa toy rotary bridge inserted in the course of tracks and comprising a movable span closing a gap in the course of tracks when in closed position, a toy boat adapted to be moved through the gap when said span is in open position, and actuating means controlled by said train upon approaching said span for rotating the span to and from open position and for simultaneously moving the boat through the gap when the span is in open position.

15. A toy railway system having a course of tracks for use with toy railway trains, a toy train movable on said tracks, a toy bridge inserted in the course of tracks and comprising a movable span closing a gap in the course of tracks when in closed position, a toy boat adapted to be moved through the gap when said span is open,

moving the boat through the gap when the span is in open position.

16. A toy system comprising, in combination, a toy bridge having a movable span closing a gap in the bridge when in closed position, a toy boat adapted to be moved through the gap when said span is in open position, and actuating means controlled from a point external of and removed from said bridge and boat for moving the span to and from open position and for simultaneously moving the boat through the gapwhen the span is in open position.

17. A toy railway system having a course of tubular tracks for use with toy railway trains, a toy train movable on said tracks, a toy bridge inserted in the course of tracks and comprising a movable span having a section of tubular tracks closing a gap in the course of tracks when in closed position, the ends of the tracks of the span and the ends of the tracks with'which the tracks of the span join being so constructed that the ends of one are partially cut away longitudinally and the ends of the other are provided with pins or rods which fit the partially cut away portions to properly close the course of tracksat the span, a toy boat adapted to be moved through the gap when said span is open, and actuating means controlled by the train upon approaching said span for moving the span to and from open position and for simultaneously moving the boat through the gap when said span is in open position.

18. A toy railway system having a course of tubular tracks for use with toy railway trains, a toy train movable on said tracks, a toy bridge inserted in'the course of tracks and comprising a movable span having a section of tubular tracks closing a gap in the course of tracks when in closed position, the ends of the tracks of the span and the ends of the tracks with which the tracks of the span join being so constructed that the ends of one are partially cut away longitudinally and the ends of the other are provided with pins or rods which fit the partially cut away portions to properly close the course of tracks at the span, a toy boat adapted to be moved through the gap when said span is open, actuatingmeans controlled by the train upon approaching said span for moving the span to and from open position and for simultaneously moving the boat through the gap when said span is in open position, and means for stopping the boat at a predetermined point of travel after it has passed through the gap and the span is closed.

19. A toy railway system having a course of tubular tracks for use with toy railway trains, a toy train movable on said tracks, a toy bridge inserted in the course of tracks and comprising a movable span having a section of tubular tracks closing a gap in the course of tracks when in closed position, the ends of the tracks of the span and the ends of the tracks with which the tracks of the span join being so constructed that the ends of one are partially cut away longitudinally and the ends of the other are provided with pins or rods which fit the partially out Way portions to properly close the course of tracks at the span, a toy boat adapted to be moved through the gap when said span is open, actuating means controlled by the train upon approaching said span for moving the span to and from open position and for simultaneously moving the boat C through the gap when said span is in open position, means for stopping the boat at a predetermined point of travel after it has passed through the gap and the span is closed, and a signal device at the approach to said bridge and .RUDOLPI-I J. JURICK. 

